Filenews 19 October 2022
Attackers vandalized the Dasoudi Municipal Park in Paphos and the mayor of the city, Phedonas Phedonos, expressed on social networks his indignation over the ban, as he says, of the Commissioner for Personal Data on the installation of cameras in public places. The Commissioner replied that: "It is not the Commissioner who prohibits the installation of cameras within the boundaries of municipalities, but the Municipalities Law itself, which does not give such power to municipalities."
The Commissioner for the Protection of Personal Data does not allow the installation of cameras. These phenomena are everyday. Too bad.., Mr. Phaedonos said, posting relevant photos.
How the Commissioner for the Protection of Personal Data responds
On the occasion of recent vandalism in parks and other public places of the Municipality of Paphos and a statement by the Mayor of Paphos on social media, that the Commissioner does not allow the installation of cameras while these phenomena are daily, I wish to clarify the following:
"It is not the Commissioner who prohibits the installation of cameras within the boundaries of municipalities, but the Municipalities Law itself, which does not give such power to municipalities. In fact, at my suggestion, this Law was recently amended, so that municipalities can place cameras where and where necessary. The relevant provisions will be implemented by a Decision of the Council of Ministers.
The Commissioner may only, exceptionally, authorise the installation and operation of cameras, for imperative reasons, under specific conditions and for a limited period of time. For example, on Easter days, due to increased traffic and the risk of injury, the operation of cameras for monitoring the glass elevators in Eleftherias Square was approved, in a way that did not identify a person and only for the dates 21 - 26 April 2022.
Last June, the Municipality of Paphos submitted a question about the placement of cameras in the surrounding area of the elevators in the parking lot of the Municipal Market to which I answered, a few days later. I also had a telephone conversation with the Mayor and explained to him that cameras can be installed the way they were placed in Eleftherias Square.
Last July, I also sent an e-mail to the Municipality of Paphos and asked that, if it was finally decided to place the cameras, in the manner described above, to send us images to make sure that no material identifying citizens is recorded. I didn't get a response from the City.
